Long flight west was worth the wait for Orioles call-up Zach Clark

Undrafted out of UMBC, right-hander gets his first taste of the big leagues at age 29

SEATTLE — As a veteran of eight minor league seasons, right-hander Zach Clark has endured plenty of excruciating bus rides during his career.

He had never been on a cross-country flight, however, until he flew to Seattle on Tuesday.

The five-hour airplane ride seemed even longer knowing what was on the other side: The Safeco Field clubhouse and his No. 64 Orioles uniform hanging in his first big league locker.

"I've never been on a long flight, so five hours on a plane was crazy," said the 29-year-old Clark, who was added to the Orioles' 25-man roster Tuesday as bullpen insurance.

What's crazier is that he was an undrafted, fifth-year senior with an injury history out of UMBC who signed for $1,000 to add organizational depth. His negotiating table was the parking lot at UMBC, where Clark, his college coach and Orioles scout Dean Albany chatted for a while about baseball and Clark's aspirations.

And now he is a big leaguer.

"He just would never give up. He really, really believed he was going to pitch in the big leagues, and who am I to say, 'No, you're not,'" said Albany, who managed Youse's Maryland Orioles against Clark's Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts in the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League in the mid-2000s. "You say, 'Live the dream,' and he really believed in his heart he would get there, somehow, some way."

Clark, a native of Newark, Del., got the call he had been hoping for at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday from Orioles director of player development Brian Graham.

Clark, of course, missed the first call.

"It was 6:30 in the morning. That was the hardest thing for me. I was trying to figure out what was going on, why I was getting called," said Clark, who was 1-2 with a 4.56 ERA in five starts at Triple-A Norfolk this season, including seven shutout innings in his last outing. "I didn't know what it was. I knew there were a lot of moves going on, but I didn't know."

Once he learned he was joining the Orioles, Clark packed quickly, picked up some stuff at Norfolk's stadium and headed to the airport. He called his wife and then his father, who, like his son, didn't pick up the phone at first.

Clark arrived at Safeco Field about 90 minutes before Tuesday's game time and got into his uniform, but he wasn't needed to pitch.

"I was making sure I said, 'Hi,' to everybody, made sure I didn't forget anything," Clark said. "I tried to soak it in as much as I could. But everything happened so quick I was just trying to not do anything wrong."

He'll be a long reliever for now, but if he's not used this week he'd be considered as a candidate for Saturday's start against the Los Angeles Angels. He also could be sent down this weekend to make room for another starter.

But all that is beyond him right now. The guy who used to go to games and sit in the upper deck on Friday "student nights" at Camden Yards is now an Oriole. Mainly because he never gave up fighting for his dream.

"Because I wanted it. I never felt like I couldn't do it," Clark said. "So if I felt like that maybe I'd have to re-evaluate. But I felt like it was something that was attainable."

Albany, who gives credit for Clark's development to the pitching coaches throughout the organization who worked with the persistent right-hander for years, said learning of Clark's promotion was one of the better moments of his longtime scouting career.

"I sent him a text immediately. Nobody has deserved this more than he has," Albany said. "He's earned it. He's been relentless. He is a really good guy and we're all real excited for him."

Tillman's going back to Cali

Right-hander Chris Tillman, who made his major league debut in 2009, has pitched in every American League ballpark except two: Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros, who entered the AL this year; and Angel Stadium of Anaheim, the place Tillman practically grew up at watching baseball.

Tillman said every time it seemed like he would have a chance to pitch in Anaheim, he was sent down to the minors. That will change tonight, when Tillman starts against the Angels in front of a large group of friends and family.

"It's big. You always want to go home. It's been a while since I have seen my family," said Tillman, who has reserved at least 20 tickets for tonight's game. "It's fun to pitch with them there. They have seen me pitch a bunch of times live, but this will be cool because it is home."

Tillman grew up in Fountain Valley, Calif., in Orange County, following the Angels and players such as Troy Glaus and Jarrod Washburn.

"I grew up as an Angels fan. Really, both Angels and Dodgers, but I was more of an Angels fan," Tillman said. "I went there all the time. I used to tell [former Orioles' teammate Kevin Gregg] I used to go to a lot of games that he pitched when I was in high school."

It's such a homecoming for Tillman that he expects to stay with his family instead of at the team hotel.

But he said he doesn't expect there to be any nerves when he steps on the mound.

"I think there are more nerves pitching in front of your hometown fans [in Baltimore]," Tillman said. "Those are the guys you want to impress the most. They are like a 10th player. I mean, you pitch in front of your family your whole life, so I think it is another game."

Showalter talks to Bundy

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he called top pitching prospect Dylan Bundy on Wednesday to see how he was doing. Bundy is in Sarasota, Fla., after having a platelet-rich plasma injection into his right forearm Wednesday. The 20-year-old has to rest his arm for six weeks to make sure the procedure can be effective. And Showalter assumed that would be tough for Bundy.

"He's OK, a little frustrated," Showalter said. "I told him be sure you're not sneaking out and throwing somewhere."

Around the horn

Showalter said Miguel Gonzalez threw a side session Wednesday and will pitch Friday as regularly scheduled. The team had considered pushing Gonzalez back a day. … Saturday's starter is still listed as TBA. … The Orioles won 16 games this April, tying the club record for the month. They also won 16 games in April in 1969, 1997, 2005 and 2008.